SLU's Flanagan nominated as best college hockey player of year; fans can vote

CANTON – Senior forward Kyle Flanagan, a Canton native and captain of the St. Lawrence University’s Division I men’s hockey team, is a nominee for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award.

Fans can vote for him or any of the other nominees as the best college hockey player of the year.

Flanagan, a graduate of William High School in Canton, has been a standout for the Saints since early in his career there.

In the 2011-12 season, he became the first SLU junior since TJ Trevelyan to reach the 100 point plateau with an assist in the final game of the season, even though he missed eight games due to injury at mid-season.

As a sophomore in the 2010-2011 season, Flanagan was named co-Most Valuable Player for the Saints, and was named team captain for the following season, becoming just the second Canton native to captain the Saints.

According to SLU records, his brother Sean was assistant captain in 2010-11 and uncle Paul, now head women's coach at Syracuse, was assistant captain in 1979-80. Kyle was the second leading scorer for the Saints as a sophomore with 12 goals and 23 assists.

He was also a USHL All Star Game MVP while playing for Cedar Rapids.

He led his high school team to a Section X Championship and a New York State final-four appearance. He was a first team All Northern selection as a sophomore and junior and co-MVP as a junior. He also played lacrosse, football and soccer and was a three-time All Northern in lacrosse. He also earned All America honors as a sophomore and senior in lacrosse and was MVP as a junior and senior.

As college hockey enters the second half of the season, fans of the collegiate game can help determine the winner of the 2013 honor.

Fans can cast their vote at http://www.hobeybakeraward.com/page/show/715460-vote-for-hobey-2013-phase-i

This first phase closes March 10. Phase two of fan balloting begins March 22 from the list of Top Ten Hobey Baker finalists. The fans’ vote accounts for 1 percent of the total ballot in each phase in selecting this year’s award recipient.

The award is named after a player that many Tiger fans believe was the best Princeton hockey player ever.

Award criteria include candidates emulating the exceptional character traits exhibited by the award’s namesake. Baker was a World War I fighter pilot and was known as America’s greatest amateur athlete in his day, excelling at hockey and football while starring for Princeton.

Award candidates must demonstrate strength of character both on and off the ice, contribute to the integrity of his team and display outstanding skills in all phases of the game. Consideration should be given to scholastic achievement and sportsmanship.

The Hobey Baker Award announcement will be made April 12.

You can follow the official Twitter page of Hobey Baker Award @HobeyBakerAward and ‘Like’ the award's Facebook page.